Posted by sad1 on August 22, 2005, at 13:47:52 [reposted on August 22, 2005, at 22:01:40 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Weaning from Effexor - Nightmares, posted by graceneeded on August 21, 2005, at 9:10:40
So, you worked your way up to 225mg in 4 years and your doctor is having you come off it completely in 3 weeks! I am shocked your doctor would even have you drop from 225mg to 150mg in one week.
I completely agree with kim79. You should be weaning off Effexor very gradually, that's what my doctor told me. My doctor described it EXACTLY as kim did, i.e., switching between 225mg and 187.5mg every other day the first week, then the next week take the 187.5mg every day, and so on... I am on 75mg and my doctor told me if I was to go off it, that it would take me 3-4 weeks to do so, and I'm only taking 1/3 of your dosage.
For now, if you can handle the withdrawals at 150mg, do yourself a favor and at least drop the rest very slowly. If you still can't handle it, maybe take 187.5 every or every other day to function better, and then drop to 150mg once your body has a chance to adjust. Your poor thing, no wonder you're suffering! Just remember that your doctor doesn't have to go through the withdrawals, you do. I would go to another doctor for a second opinion.
> I have been on Effexor xr for 4 years and worked up to 225mg. I thought it was great stuff at 150 but had to go up to 225 and the side effects were too much. Started to come down to 150 on Friday 8-19-05 and started Wellburton the same day. The headaches have been unreal along with the sweats and irrational thoughts. I took Dramamine today to see if it helps. I am due to be off Effexor in two weeks. I sure hope the Wellburton helps. Depressed with a headache in Georgia.
poster:sad1
thread:457503
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/wdrawl/20050822/msgs/545405.html